[Signal Cleveland]: NEON clinic saga drags on

[don bryant]

Plus, a year in photos

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View in browser 🌥️Mostly cloudy with a high of 41 Signals 216 is powered by community support. Today, we celebrate 420 Clevelanders who give monthly to keep local news free. Join them with a $5 monthly donation. You can make a difference today! Good morning Cleveland, For a few years, the future of NEON’s health clinics has been unsettled, to say the least. The nonprofit has, for decades, served patients on the city’s East Side with everything from managing diabetes and high blood pressure to dental issues.  But misfortunes and mismanagement have mounted – from a massive fire that destroyed its main clinic to being the victim of embezzlement to defaulting on a risky loan which set it up to be taken over by a receiver. Of late, it hasn’t been able to make payroll for its staff, who weathered the holidays without a paycheck.  Why does this story matter in a city that is awash in health care institutions? Because NEON has served Clevelanders mostly likely to have a shorter life because of health disparities, and it does so regardless of whether they can afford big bills and co-pays. This year might be make-or-break for NEON and its patients. Stay tuned for what happens next.  Thanks, Rachel Dissell Managing Editor Signal Cleveland 📬 Does this newsletter help you understand Cleveland?  If Signals 216 brings you clarity, connection, or even just a smarter scroll — you're not alone. One donor told us: “They explain what’s happening in a way that actually makes sense.” This kind of reporting stays free because readers like you believe everyone deserves access to trustworthy, local news. If you value it, support it. 🤍 JOIN THE MOVEMENT 📷 A year of Cleveland photos: From tight races for Cleveland City Council seats to family reunions, Signal Cleveland was there to capture moments both big and small that shaped the city throughout the last year. View the photos that caught our attention in 2025. 🗞️ Chatter notes: CMSD students and staff are moving as schools merge, but district headquarters is staying put under a long, costly lease. Plus, Mayor Justin Bibb launches a new Substack newsletter to speak directly to residents. 🏫 CMSD opens online portal today: Students whose schools are closing under the district’s consolidation plan need to either accept their seat at their assigned school or choose a different school. Here’s what you need to know. 🏛️ Cleveland City Council's newest members will be sworn in today at 7 p.m. (Watch live here.) Joining the body are: Nikki Hudson (Ward 11), Tanmay Shah (Ward 12) and Austin Davis (Ward 7). Council now has 15 wards, down from 17. Find your council person here.  🌲Cleveland does not offer a special pickup for Christmas trees. Trees can be set out with regular household trash, or residents can take them to a private yard waste facility for processing. Find out more from the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District. Cleveland Documenters trains and pays residents to document local government meetings with notes. We then make those meeting summaries available as a new public record. Want to get involved in how Cleveland works? Become a Documenter. 🎉New year, new milestone: Cleveland Documenters have covered 1,500 meetings (and counting). Here are the meetings they will cover this week: Monday, Jan. 5 at 9:30 a.m. | Cleveland Board of Zoning Appeals. Attend at Cleveland City Hall, 601 Lakeside Ave. E, Room 514, or watch on YouTube. Monday, Jan. 5 at 7 p.m. | Cleveland City Council. Attend at Cleveland City Hall, 601 Lakeside Ave. E, Council Chambers, 2nd floor, or watch on YouTube. Tuesday, Jan. 6 at 9 a.m. | Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority Committee Meetings. Attend at RTA's office, 1240 W. 6th St. in Cleveland, or watch on YouTube. Thursday, Jan. 8 at 9:15 a.m. | Cleveland Landmarks Commission. Attend at Cleveland City Hall, 601 Lakeside Ave. E, Room 514, or watch on YouTube. Friday, Jan. 9 at 12 p.m. | Cleveland Urban Forestry Commission budget Committee. Watch on WebEx. We wanted to make sure you saw these stories in case you missed them... The U.S. EPA is proposing to weaken Clean Water Act rules that protect more than 265,000 acres of wetlands and 50,000 miles of streams in Ohio. Read the report from Devin Nunnari. Slavic Village residents will decide how to invest $100,000 in their community this year. No city officials or foundation leaders will tell them how to do it. Frank W. Lewis explains the participatory budgeting pilot. Turning pain into products: Sensory toy made in Cleveland helps to relieve stress.   Read Documenter Emma Sedlak's story here.  Help us build YOUR community newsroom 📧 Know someone who would enjoy this newsletter? Forward it to them. 🗞️ Want to send us a tip? You can submit it right here. ❤️ Did this newsletter make a difference in your day? Donate here and support our work! 📒 Join our team—become a Documenter! To learn more, click here. Did today's newsletter help keep you informed? 👍Yes, and I'd like to support your work. 👎 No, and I'd like to submit feedback. Signal Cleveland, 3200 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44115, United States Click here to stop receiving Signals 216. To manage your newsletter preferences, click here.